Hayley Paige Returns to Bridal, Teasing Her Upcoming Collection in NYC 

Hayley Paige is back. After regaining the rights to her birth name and intellectual property in a four-year legal battle with her former employer, JLM Couture, Paige made her return to the bridal world with a sneak peek of her upcoming collection on Tuesday night at the White Peacock in New York City.

The soirée titled “Spark After Dark” lived up to its moniker with guests arriving in bedazzled looks paired with over-the-top accessories. Partygoers were greeted on the street outside by a photographer taking portraits of attendees in front of a personalized vintage taxicab. 

Meanwhile, inside revelers sipped on signature cocktails with names like “All This and Heaven Too” and “Second First Look,” alongside lush floral arrangements. There was even a full-size wedding dress made of roses and greenery.

“I feel like I’m at bridal prom,” one partygoer was overheard saying. 

The bi-level party was all that and more, featuring a speakeasy in the basement that guests were encouraged to visit by revealing the password on a scratch-off they received upon arrival. The password was another meaningful detail — chrysalis — referring to the transformation from caterpillar to butterfly, a wink to Paige’s own transformation and rebirth. 

The team at Madi Lane Bridal, Paige’s partner in manufacturing and distribution, welcomed the crowd and invited the guest of honor up to the stage. “I can’t believe we are in this moment together,” Paige said.

“It was touch-and-go there for a while — a wild couple of years. But we turned a corner and all of you are still here.…It’s amazing what you can learn from grief and loss about your own capabilities but more importantly who is there standing in the rain with you. And some of those people are here tonight. Actually, I think all of those people are here tonight,” Paige continued.

In the room were her parents, fiancé Conrad Louis, fellow designer and “Say Yes to the Dress” star Randy Fenoli and friends from dozens of bridal stores. Paige spent the majority of her party enthusiastically greeting and taking photos with every one of her friends and fans.

Here’s more of what Paige had to say:

WWD: How does it feel to be back designing bridal again?

Hayley Paige: Super giddy. And it feels a little bit like a college reunion, but I get to go back to college, and I’ve learned some extra skills, and I found a much better business partner. So I’m absolutely pumped and I can’t wait to celebrate and move the ball forward.

WWD: What can we expect from your new line? Will you be bringing back any of your favorite looks and remaking “Hayley’s version” Taylor Swift-style? 

H.P.: Ooh a little “Hayley Paige version.” I really thought about this because there was such a signature to the DNA of Hayley Paige and so I wanted to make sure we’re still honoring that, but I think she’s also kind of grown up a little bit in that she’s experienced a lot, so there’s a tiny bit more grit and maybe edginess to it. So, I’m really excited to remix some of our best, most iconic looks and then kind of elevate them a bit. So hopefully it’ll be a little bit of a duality. There’s going to be a lot of sentimentalism and like hidden messaging and some of the poetry and artistic value that we’ve come to know. So a little bit of everything.

WWD: What is one piece of advice you would give to an inspiring designer? 

H.P.: What’s really important is to hold onto your enthusiasm, because there will be setbacks or there will be moments where you just don’t feel confident in what you’re doing. And in the highs of the highs, you have to have some humility because everything is temporary. Whether it’s a high or low, find your middle ground and that’s where your enthusiasm is.

WWD: How do you feel about tariffs? Have you signed the petition with the other bridal companies that are seeking an exemption from reciprocal tariffs?

H.P.: I would love to sign that. I think it’s going to challenge our industry a lot but we’re so resilient and I have every confidence in our ability to proceed no matter what happens because there’s too much talent and too much good business in this industry to suffer. And so whether we need to pivot, whether we need to push against, whatever we need to do, we will do, and I will be on the frontlines.

WWD: On a much lighter note, what are you excited about the most for your own wedding?

H.P.: Oh my gosh, Conrad’s face. Because I don’t think we’ll do a first look. I think when I’m going to walk down the aisle, I want him to be really surprised by the dress. But I want to see his eyes and his face and, oh my gosh, we are actually getting married.